Clutch disk



Patented Nov. 2l, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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cw'rcn msx im sus, summum, om Application sans 15, 1937, serai Na.130,813'

a emma (ci 19a-lov) f The present invention relates to a new andimproved form of construction for a clutch disk particularly adapted foruse in clutch assemblies for internal combustion engines. Such a clutchdisk is carried by the driven shaft of a clutch assembly and functionsas the engaging element with the driving members such as the pressureplate and iiy wheel.

In other words, the clutch disk operates as a cushion element which isalternately engaged and disengaged between two fiat surfaces. Frictionfacing rings, which are in and of themselves inelastic and not capableof any bending or distortion during operation, are carried by. theclutch disk and provide the contacting surfaces thereof. Since it isdesirable to have a certain amount of cushioning action in the clutchdisk, during its engagement and disengagement with the driving elements,such action is obtained by distortion of the body of the disk.

It is therefore the general object and nature of my invention to providea clutch disc construction wherein the relatively brittle, inelasticfacing rings are enabled to retain a at and undistorted position duringthe operation of the disk, and wherein the entire cushioning action istaken up by the disk proper and not transmitted to the facing rings. Myinvention also comprises a new and improved method of forming offsetsectors in the clutch disk whereby the terminal ends of the sectors aremaintained in their desired position in the plane of the body of thedisk while the offsetting deformation of the remainder of such sectorsis accomplished, so that such deformation does not distort or displacesuch terminal ends.

Briey outlined, my invention includes a disk having a series of flatsectors, all lying in the plane of the body of the disk and to which oneof the facing rings is attached; and a series of offset sectors ortongues, which are all offset in one direction with respect to the bodyof the disk and with the other facing ring secured only to the highpoints of these offset sectors, so that movement of the facing ringstoward and away from each other is absorbed entirely by the bowedsectors without bending any portion of the facing rings' or setting upany distorting stresses in the latter.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention,then, consists of the 'means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description sets forth in detailcertain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosedmeans and mode illustrating, however, but one of various ways-in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

`Fig. 1 is a plan view of a clutch disk, with friction facing ringsremoved, embodying the principle of my invention; and Fig. 2 is adeveloped sectional view, with friction facing rings attached, and takensubstantially along the arcuate line 2-2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is asectional view through a forming die illustrating the method of formingthe sectors in the clutch disk.

Now referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown therein aclutch disk of circular shape, having the body portion I and the centralopening 2' for a hub mounting. A series of fiat sectors 2, joined to thebody I and lying in the same plane therewith is located around theperiphery of the disk. Laterally offset bowed sectors or tongues 3 arecontiguous with the fiat sectors 2, as indicated along the line 4. Thebowed -sectors 3 are separated from the body of the disk I along theirinner arcuate line and also along a radial line by substantiallyL-shaped slots 5. 'Ihe free end of the tongues 3, that is the endopposite to the end which is joined with the flat sectors 2, isflattened for a short distance, as indicated at 6. The flattened portion6 lies in the vsame plane as that of the fiat sectors 2.l

All of the bowed sectors 3 are`oifset in the same direction from thebody of the disk I, or in other words, they are all bowed on the sameside of the disk. A friction facing ring I is secured to the highestpoints, or points of the bowed sectors 3 which are farthest away fromthe body of the disk I.by suitable' rivets 8. A friction facing ring 8is secured to the fiat sectors 2 by means of the rivets III. Registeredopenings II and I2 are provided in the friction facing rings I and lrespectively in order to receive the projecting heads of the rivets 8and Il, when the disk is in flattened or engaged position.

It will thus be seen that the friction facing bowed sectors when thelatter are iiexed into and out of the plane of the disk, thuseliminating 4any sharp edges which might cut into or iniure the innersides of the facing rings.

The clutch disk is assembled with the facing ring l attached to the -atsectors 2 on the fly wheel side. The facing ring 9, being normallycontiguous to the plane of the body of the disk i has very little, ifany, axial movement with respect to that plane upon engagement andcompression of the clutch' disk, whereas the facing ring 1, attached tothe offset sectors 3, has a relatively greater axial movement. Thus byassembling the facing ring 9 on the ily wheel side, the relativelyaxially xed facing ring, upon engagement of the clutch parts, contactswith the axially xed clutch element (the y wheel), and p the relativelyaxially movable facing ring contacts with the axially movable clutchelement (the pressure plate).

The facing ring 1 attached to the oiIset sectors 8 is contacted by thepressure plate, and as compression between the pressure plate and ilywheel increases, the area of contact of the facing ring 1 with theclutchl disk I correspondingly increases during the flattening out ofthe offset sectors 3, until complete surface to surface con tact is hadbetween not only the facing Vring 1, but also the facing ring 9 when theclutch disk is in fully compressed and engaged position.

Smoother engaging and disengaging operation of the clutch disk is thusobtainable by reason of my above described construction; and a longerlife and freedom from breakage of the facing rings due to the absence ofany bending or distorting stresses being set up in them result.

The method of forming the above described oset sectors 3 is as follows:

The sector 3, which originally is in a flat condition and disposed inthe plane of the body of the disk, is placed in a forming die I5 havinga convexV contour corresponding to the final form of the offset sector.-The terminal ends of the offset sector 3, viz., the free end 6 and thejuncture end which joins the at sectors 2 along the joining line 4 areheld in the plane of the disk by the holding dies or pressure pads I6and I1. The male forming die I8 is then forced downwardly against thedie I5 to place the bowed offset in the intermediate portion of theonset sector 3. In this manner, the terminal ends 6 of the oset sectors3 are maintained in proper position during the deforming operation, and

the flat sectors 2 are also maintained in proper alignment in the planeof the body of the disk I and are not subjected to any undesireddistortion or displacement.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the structureherein disclosed, provided the means stated `by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:l

l. A clutch disk comprising the combinationof a single disk body andfriction facing rings mounted on both sides of said body, the latterhaving a series of alternate at and bowed sectors extending to the outeredge of said disk and formed in pairs contiguous to each other along aradial line, said bowed sectors being bowed all in the same directionwith respect to said disk, and flat end portions on said bowed sectorslying in the plane of said disk body.

2. A clutch disk comprising the combination of a single disk body andfriction facing rings mounted on/ both sides of said body, the latterhaving a series of alternate fiat and bowed sectors extending to theouter edge of said disk and formed in pairs contiguous to each otheralong a radial line, said bowed sectors being bowed all in the samedirection with respect to said disk, and fiat end portions on said bowedsectors lying in the plane of said disk body, one of said rings beingattached to said ila't sectors only and the other of said rings beingattached to said bowed sectors only.

3. A clutch disk. comprising the combination of a single disk body andfriction facing rings mounted on both sides of said body, the latterhaving a series of at sectors and arcuately bowed sectors radiallycontiguous with said flat sectors, and separated by an L-shaped slotalong a radial and circumferential side from said disk body, all of saidbowed sectors being offset on one and the same side of said disk body,and at portions on the free endsfof said bowed sectors adjacentthe-radial portion of said L- slots, said flat portions being disposedin the plane of the, body of said disk, one of said rings being attachedto said flat sectors only and the other of said rings being attached tosaid bowed sectors only.

IRA SAKS.

